ASTM_F_1254_-_90_2001.pdf

Designation:F 1254 90(Reapproved 2001)Standard Practice forPerformance of Prehospital Manual Defibrillation1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1254;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers guidelines for prehospital providersperforming manual defibrillation.1.2 This practice is one in a set of performance guidelinesfor prehospital defibrillation.1.3 This practice is specifically not meant to deal withequipment specifications,quality assurance,or training.1.4 This practice is limited to external defibrillators used inthe prehospital setting.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:F 1031 Practice for Training the Emergency Medical Tech-nician(Basic)2F 1149 Practice for Qualifications,Responsibilities,andAuthority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medi-cal Direction of Emergency Medical Services2F 1177 Terminology Relating to Emergency Medical Ser-vices22.2American Heart Association Document:National Standards and Guidelines for CardiopulmonaryResuscitation(CPR)and Emergency Cardiac Care(ECC),American Heart Association(Current Edition)33.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation(BLS/CPR)a set of skills that includes airway management,chest compressions,and others defined by the American HeartAssociation.3.1.2 defibrillationthe discharge of an electrical currentthrough the heart for the purpose of restoring a perfusingcardiac rhythm.For the purpose of this document,defibrillationmay include cardioversion.3.1.3 manual defibrillatora monitor/defibrillator that hasno capability for rhythm analysis and will charge and deliver ashock only at the command of the operator.3.1.4 operatoras outlined in this practice,an EmergencyMedical Technician(Practice F 1031)who has successfullycompleted a course of training and may treat prehospitalcardiac arrest with a manual defibrillator.Legal functioning asan operator will be based upon licensure/certification require-ments as established by the authority or authorities havingjurisdiction.3.1.5 protocolssee Terminology F 1177.3.1.6 service medical directorthe physician who is medi-colegally responsible for the patient care provided by theoperator(Practice F 1149).3.1.7 standing orderssee Terminology F 1177.4.Significance and Use4.1 This practice establishes minimum guidelines for pre-hospital manual defibrillation.4.2 Any person who is identified as prehospital manualdefibrillation operator shall be an Emergency Medical Techni-cian,as defined by the authority or authorities having jurisdic-tion,and shall meet the requirements of this practice.4.3 Using this practice,emergency medical service institu-tions,organizations,and certification/licensing agencies shouldbe able to develop standards for the certification/licensing andpractice of the prehospital manual defibrillation operator.5.Standards for Prehospital Manual Defibrillation5.1 The operator shall be familiar with all operations of thedefibrillator.5.2 The operator shall be capable of performing prehospitaldefibrillation in accordance with standing orders or protocols,or both,developed or approved,or both,by the service medicaldirector or other medical authority or authorities,or both,having jurisdiction.5.3 The operator shall be capable of recognizing a patientwho is unresponsive,apneic and pulseless.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on EmergencyMedical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.02 onPersonnel,Training,and Education.Current edition approved March 5,1990.Published April 1990.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 13.02.3Available from the American Heart Association,7320 Greenville Ave.,Dallas,TX 75231.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.5.4 The operator shall be capable of applying and activatingthe defibrillator according to manufacturers recommendationsand standing orders/protocols.5.5 The operator shall be capable of assessing certaincardiac rhythms,including at least ventricular fibrillation,ventricular tachycardia,and asystole.5.6 If the operator determines from 5.4 that the cardiacrhythm appears to be ventricular fibrillation,ventricular tachy-cardia,or asystole,then the operator must be capable ofreassessing the rhythm by checking the cables,leads,battery,and switches for potential operational malfunctions.5.7 The operator shal